Anyone have an F-250 V10?

[300xc]

I found an 06 F-250 with an extended cab and long bed for a decent deal (68k miles). I'm really looking for a 1/2 ton, but if I could get a good deal on this, why not? I was wondering if someone who owns one of that era could give me a sort of "what to expect." I have a 2001 Silverado 1500 z71 right now, so I know about the bad turning radius, 11ish miles per gallon city, etc. In 05, the v10s had a big update, so I'm really looking for opinions after that.

Is there anything specific I should look for when I check it out?
Here is a picture:

 

[David R]

Exhaust manifolds. They go bad frequently. If you hear ANY noise from them, get them fixed before buying the truck.

David

 

[Edmo]

I've got a '01 crew cab 4x4 long bed V-10 w/4.3 rear gears and 100k miles on it.

The truck has been good and the motor has only had routine maintenance with no problems. The mileage has averaged a solid 11 MPG during it's life.

The only issue with my motor is oil usage. It uses about a quart every 5,000 miles and has since new. It was bought in Anchorage, Alaska during a cold winter so the break in period wasn't the best for a motor. I attribute the oil usage to that.

OBTW, I took it to the dealer about the oil usage and was told the acceptable usage is 1 quart in 900 miles!!

Edmo

 

[LostintheOzone]

Is there anything specific I should look for when I check it out?

Look for the turbo charger. Should be right on top of the engine.

 

[BaldEagle1313]

Look for the turbo charger. Should be right on top of the engine.

AFAIK, the V-10 isn't turbo'd; only the diesel. A 2006 Ford 6.8 V-10 will be the 3-valve per cylinder variant. The extra valve pumped up the HP from 310 to 362 and the torque from 425 to 457, so if you must have the V-10 the 3-valve is the better version. Biggest issue of which I am aware is spark plug removal. Ford has a TSB on it. The factory-style two-piece plug will get stuck and the top half breaks off, leaving the bottom half stuck in the head. If the truck has service records look them over carefully, and see if it lists a part number for the plugs. Hopefully they've been replaced, using one-piece items.

The diesel version is the best choice if you really need the pulling power.

 

[flundertaker]

I bought a v10 f250 new in 2002. I traded it in on a f350 7.3 diesel in 2003 with only 9000 miles on it. I took a royal screwung on the trade in but considered it the stupudity fee for thinking a v10 would suffice and not buying the diesel initially. If you dont trruely need a diesel get the v8. The v10 in my opibion is the worst of both worlds: gutless with horrible mileage.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk

 

[NE450No2]

A friend of mine has 2 Ford Excursions. One his personal vehicle with the Diesel, the other a company vehicle with the V 10.
Another friend also has a Diesel Excursion.

I have ridden in and driven both types of engines.

The V10 gets horrible mileage, but has enough power, near as I could tell... I have not pulled a trailer with it.

The Diesels run like scalded dogs.

 

[rojodiablo]

The diesel version is the best choice if you really need the pulling power.

Only if you are in bed with your diesel mechanic........ the 6.0 is a motor infested with problems.

We have 3 of the V10's at our shop, from 70K to 190K. Pretty solid motors. They do use a little oil, but no more than say a Chevy big block. They wash their sins in gasoline..... and they tend to sin a lot from what I can tell. We have had some issues with a bad injector, and the aforementioned spark plugs. Them last 2 plugs are NOT fun to change out. They are back there and clearance is scant. Be VERY careful pulling them if they are the original plugs. Hilarity does not ensue if you crack one apart in the back. We have a small exhaust leak on one when cold, but it goes mute when the motor is warm, so we have not changed the gasket.
We have seen the code for a cylinder bank low performance/ cylinder bank lean condition; these tend to be a couple of possible issues: 3 out of 5 times it's a dirty MAF. (We run silty pipeline areas, so the air filters take quite a beating on our jobsites.) The other issues have been a bad plug, and a bad injector. When that code comes up, the thing will use fuel at a rate only equaled by a WWII battleship.
All in all, a pretty good motor. Better dependability than the 6.0 diesel, though the diesel does pull a little better with a heavy load. Better endurance than the 5.4 Tritons we have. Those motors tend to have big end bearing failures, with regularity unfortunately.

 

[300xc]

Thanks door the responses, I appreciate it.

 

[BaldEagle1313]

Only if you are in bed with your diesel mechanic........ the 6.0 is a motor infested with problems.

We have 3 of the V10's at our shop, from 70K to 190K. Pretty solid motors. They do use a little oil, but no more than say a Chevy big block. They wash their sins in gasoline..... and they tend to sin a lot from what I can tell. We have had some issues with a bad injector, and the aforementioned spark plugs. Them last 2 plugs are NOT fun to change out. They are back there and clearance is scant. Be VERY careful pulling them if they are the original plugs. Hilarity does not ensue if you crack one apart in the back. We have a small exhaust leak on one when cold, but it goes mute when the motor is warm, so we have not changed the gasket.
We have seen the code for a cylinder bank low performance/ cylinder bank lean condition; these tend to be a couple of possible issues: 3 out of 5 times it's a dirty MAF. (We run silty pipeline areas, so the air filters take quite a beating on our jobsites.) The other issues have been a bad plug, and a bad injector. When that code comes up, the thing will use fuel at a rate only equaled by a WWII battleship.
All in all, a pretty good motor. Better dependability than the 6.0 diesel, though the diesel does pull a little better with a heavy load. Better endurance than the 5.4 Tritons we have. Those motors tend to have big end bearing failures, with regularity unfortunately.

I should have specified the 7.3 Powerstroke. The 6.0L is a pile of guano. My diesel mechanic quasi-nephew tells me stories about them that I can scarcely believe - except he has the pictures to back it up.

 

[Maddog 521]

I had one from 2000 to 2005. Good engine with no problems. I could pull stumps with that truck. It would go by everything but a gas station.

 

[BigBoy99]

Comparison

My neighbor has a F250 with a V10 and I have an F250 with diesel. His is a year older than mine. I get about 16 - 18 mpg and he is getting just about half that much!

 

[LVSteve]

If you need something like that to tow go right ahead, but never complain to us about the gas mileage.

The Ford Raptor was the most recent "must have" accessory here in Vegas. Now gas has hit ~$3.50/gallon our local Ford dealer has several used ones (probably off lease or repo'd) that they cannot move. They're great on an open desert trail but a PITA on tight mountain tracks. Too wide.

 

[yaktamer]

Here is a picture:

For the reasons mentioned by others, as well as some unverified stories I've heard about premature catastrophic engine failure I'd be inclined to steer clear of the V-10, but it's such a nice looking truck it would be hard to resist.

 

[LostintheOzone]

That is the rumor.

I've towed to Florida with a diesel F-350, and they always needed to get gas before me.

When I priced my new 2004 F-350 V-10, it was $8000 (with tax) less than the diesel (including the rebate and mandatory diesel transmission).

Now, diesel fuel is about $0.50/gallon higher.

You'd have a hard time convincing me that the diesel is a better value for a guy that just needs an occasional tow truck.

I actually have to pull it into four-wheel drive with a manual stick and get out and turn the hub a 1/4 click to lock the front hubs.

It has pulled a lot of other trucks out of bad situations.

It's not a rumor. 17 mph solo and 13 mpg with 8000 lb trailer. No BS. I'm not sure where you are, but diesel has been consistently about 10-15 cents higher than regular here forever. I filled my Duramax up today and diesel was 4 cents lower than regular. Considering the difference in MPG (V10 vs diesel) the diesel has saved me at least 15K in fuel costs with 100K I have on the truck. Diesel will easily do 300K before an engine rebuild. I know a guy that has 400K on his Cummings without a rebuild. Ask a dealer to find you a used low mileage diesel and they will just laugh. They also get top dollar for them new.

 

[A10]

I had an 03 Excursion with the V10 and loved it! BAD gas mileage, but smooth power and I loved the exhaust note! We sold it because my wife got tired of trying to park the thing! Never had problems with the engine.

 

[Hofstet]

I had a '99 F350 SD with a V10 for 10 yrs. with 110,000 miles when I sold it and bought a 2010 F150.
Had to replace both exhaust manifolds (out of warranty, one at only 3000 miles over and Ford paid half). Truck was hard on brakes. Lots of torque, but couldn't pass a gas station w/o stopping. Great plow truck.

 

[JSR III]

I have a 2003 FORD Excursion V-10 triton and I was getting 10.1 mpg when I first got it with 20,000 miles on the clock. Now down to 7 mpg with close to 60,000 miles.

Changed spark plugs and wires, air filter, lube oil and filter, new slippers all around and front end alignment. Most new front end parts and shocks and brakes all around.

Still getting 7 mpg. Pulls my 21.5 Cuddy Cabin like its not even there. I love the car but $100 barely gives me 3/4 of a tank.

 

[rojodiablo]

I have a 2003 FORD Excursion V-10 triton and I was getting 10.1 mpg when I first got it with 20,000 miles on the clock. Now down to 7 mpg with close to 60,000 miles.

Changed spark plugs and wires, air filter, lube oil and filter, new slippers all around and front end alignment. Most new front end parts and shocks and brakes all around.

Still getting 7 mpg. Pulls my 21.5 Cuddy Cabin like its not even there. I love the car but $100 barely gives me 3/4 of a tank.

2 things: 1. Clean the MAF. 2. Replace the O2 sensor. Solid money on these 2 things costing you. The MAF is in the intake runner. It will look like a piano wire, or a teardrop looking plastic/ amber blob in the intake. It reads Mass Air Flow, ie intake velocity. A little bit off, and it will set you in a rich condition off idle and heavily rich for initial acceleration....... meaning low fuel mileage. To clean it, you just open the intake runner/ remove the boot and spray it with a carb cleaner that says cleans MAF sensors. let dry for 10 minutes, close it up and go. To reset your EFI module, disconnect the battery for 10 minutes; ie when you do the cleaning. When the EFI loses all power, it resets to original factory settings and then re-learns your driving style much quicker than if it is not rebooted. Without a reboot, the computers' adjustments can take 30 days.
A bad O2 sensor does the same thing, from the other end. It's in the exhaust, near the cat. O2 reads oxygen level in burned exhaust, and when reading wrong, it tends to let the computer operate in a default mode and that tends to make the truck make power first and foremost, which will cost fuel mileage.

 

[5BeansintheWheel]

I had an 03 super cab ( Ford does not make an extended cab) with a 4R100 and 3.73 rears. Drove it for 4 years with no issues other than a couple of manifold bolts breaking.

It replaced my 97 super cab which had a 460 with 4.10 rears. I thought the V10 got good fuel mileage in comparison. The torque curve on the 6.8 was much flatter then the 460 also.

The 460 in the lighter truck and lower rear felt like it would go to the moon on take off, it would fall on it's face not long after.

The heavier Super Duty with the higher rear struggled to get moving, but once it did, it held the curve a lot longer.

Please note this my own experience with two different trucks and someone else may have different results.

I replaced the 03 with another 97, this one a crew with a 7.3, I have a thing for Ford obs trucks.

My concern with buying an 06 would be rust. If you are not in the road salt/brine zone you should be good. If the truck spent it's life in the rust belt, it will start showing it sooner then later.

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